Electric switch



May 13, 1924. 1,493,636

B. D. KUNKLE ELECTRIC swr'rcfl Filed July 15. 1922 Z Shun-Sheet 1 ll l I x May 13 1924.

B. D. KUNKLE ELECTRIOSWITCH Filed July 15. 1922 2' Shuts-Sheet 2 fqzyawafliiivzk '7? my Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BAYARD D. KUNKLE, QF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed July 15,

To all 207mm it may concern:

M- Be it known that I, BAYARD D. KUNKLE,

limited to any particular use to which it may be put.

The invention has for its object a general improvement in the construction of such switches and involves a number of characteristics which cannot well be described in the preamble, the general nature of the invention being clearly disclosed by the accompanying drawings and the following description and being fully pointed out in the claims.

7 In the drawings Fig. 1is a front face view of one form of switch structure embracing the various characteristics of my invention: Fig. 2 is a view from the other side; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line H of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view of a part of the structure as it appears in Fig.3 on a larger scale with parts broken away and the contact mounting base. that enters into the structure, removed; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 4: Fig. 8 is a sec tional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig.9 is a perspective view illustrating a part of the end wall of the casing for the switching mechanism and a bearing for one of the op erating elements in separated relation; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a floating contact member that is preferably employedyFig, 11 is a perspective view of another contact member; and Fig. 12 shows, in perspective,

' a handle and actuator for the contact structure illustrated in Fig. 11.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

The switching mechanism illustrated includes a casing 1 that has one end wall 2. The cylindrical wall 3 of the casing is formed with bayonet slots 4 which receive the bayonet pins 5 upon the contact mounting base 6 whereby this base and the casing 1922. Serial No. 575,277.

are assembled. The contact actuator 7 is disposed in the space between the mounting base 6 and the end wall 2. This contact'actuator is formed with a central opening 8 which is generally circular in contour and is substantially co-axial \with the casing. This central opening is enlarged at intervals into spaced apart recesses 9, 10, 11 and 12. A handle is provided upon the exterior of the casing, this handle 13 being preferably formed of sheet metal so as to be hollow. This handle is mounted to turn upon the axis of the casing and is provided for the purpose of operating the actuator 7. The

handle is formed with tongues 14, 15 which enter the recesses 9 and 10 and are'bent to engage the face of the actuator that is nearer the end wall to afford space between the handle and actuator in which the end wall is received. A bearing 17 is also co-axial with the casing. This bearing has tongues 18 that enter recesses 19 in the end wall 2, these tongues being clinched against the inner face of said end wall.

A switch operating member 20, such as the tumbler barrel of a lock, is journaled in the bearing, the casing having projecting format-ions 21 upon which said operating member bears. The handle has an overlying portion 22 which serves as a retaining element upon the outer end of the bearing for maintaining the operating member 20 within the bearing. This operating member has a cylindrical continuation 23 which passes through the handle and upon which the outer part of the handle is journaled.

The bearing 17 and the operating member 20are in register with'the central opening 8 in the actuator 7. A second contact actuator 24 is located within the opening 8 to be in register with the bearing 17. The tumbler barrel or other operating member 20 is provided with an extension 25 of irregular contour. which enters an opening 26, of corresponding contour, that is formed in the second actuator 24. The handle serves to turn the actuator 7 independently of the operating element 20 housed by the handle and likewise said operating element serves to turn the actuator 24 independently of the handle. The bearing 17 may also constitute a locking element complemental to the element 20 when this element is also a locking element.

As illustrated, the locking element 20 car ries tumblers 27 that are brought into or out of thelocking recesses 28 formed in the element 17. The contacting part which is governed by the actuator 7 is preferably inclusive of a metallic rin 29 and metallic sprlng arms 30 mounted t ereon and preferably separately formed therefrom and afterwards riveted thereto but to which construction the invention is not to be limited. Said ring is formed with tongues 31, 32 that have sliding fit within the recesses 11 and 12. The actuator 24 carries a segment 33 of a metallic ring which is riveted to this actuator at a mid-portion, the ends of the segment bem extended toward the mounting base 6 an terminating in globular segments 34 and 35, the globular segment 34 being co-axial w1th the bearing 17 and the other parts that are co-axial with this bearing. The contact arms 30 also terminate in globular segments 36.

The mounting base 6 has a central contact 37 that is co-axial with the bearing 17 and the contact 34. The mounting base also carries other contacts 38 which are complemental, respectively, to the remaining contacts 35 and 36. The resilient arms carrying these contacts press the same against the base or upon complemental contacts carried by the base according to the adjustment of the handle or of the look.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the contacts 37 and 38 are exteriorly threaded to be threaded into the base 6 and are interiorly threaded to receive binding screws 39 that serve to clamp circuit conductors 40 in connection with the contacts upon the -base that are pertinent thereto. The contacts 37 and 38 are thus sleeve contacts that receive the bulging contacts 35 and 36 that are complemental thereto when the actuators are in corresponding adjustment.

The resilience of the spring arms of the contact structure governed by the actuator 7 is such that this contact structure and actuator are maintained in assembly at the tongues 31, 32 and the recesses 11 and 12. The spring arms upon the actuator 24 maintain this actuator in assembly with the operating member 20.

The casing end wall 2 may be inwardly bulged to afford a bearing face to receive the thrusts of the actuators 7 and 24. The end wall of the casing is formed with armate slots 41 through which the tongues 14 and 15 pass, the ends of these slots serving to define the limit of rotary movement of the handle A finishing plate 42 is desirably assembled with the casing by means of arcuate lips 43 which pass through the arcuate slots 4] and are turned over the end wall 2 whereby the finishing plate and end wall are held in firm assembly. The inner faces of the lips are desirably so positioned as to afford bearing surfaces for the actuator 7 to replace the portion of the end wall where the arcuate slots 41 are located, the inner faces of the lips and the inner hearing surface of the end wall being substantially coincident.

While I have herein ,shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without geparting from the spirit of my invention,

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. Switching mechanism including a casing having an end wall; a contact mounting base assembled with said casing and spaced apart from its aforesaid end wall; a contact actuator between the end wall and base and formed with a central opening which is enlarged into spaced apart recesses; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed with tongues that pass through slots formed in said end wall and through some of said recesses and are bent to engage the face of said actuator that is further from said end wall, said tongues being formed with shoulders that engage the face of said actuator that is nearer the end wall to afford space between the handle and actuator in which this end wall is received: a bearing, carried by said end wall, within the handle and in register with the aforesaid central opening; a second contact actuator within the aforesaid central opening; an operating element mounted to turn in said bearing and extending through said end wall into operating engagement with the second actuator, said end wall projecting between the second actuator and its operating element; contacts upon the aforesaid base; and complemental contacts upon said actuators, the, contact part on the first actu base assembled with said casing and spaced apart from its aforesaid end wall: a contact actuator between the end wall and base and formed with a central opening; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and inwardly extended into operating engagement with said actuator, the extended portion of the handle having shouldered formation that engages the face of said actuator that is nearer the end wall to afford space between the handle and actuator in which this end wall is received; a bearing, carried by said end wall, within the handle and in register with the aforesaid central opening; a second contact actuator within the aforesaid central opening; an operating element mounted to turn in said handle and extending through I I I sa1d end wall into operating engagement with the second actuator, said endwall rojecting between the second actuator an its actuator between the end wall and base and formed with a central opening which is enlarged into spaced apart recesses; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed with tongues that pass through slots formed in said end wall and through some of said recesses and are bent to engage the face of said actuator that is further from said end wall, said tongues being formed with shoulders that engage the face of said actuator that is nearer the end wall to afford space between the handle and actuator in which this end wall is received; a bearing, carried by said end wall, within the handle and in register with the aforesaid central opening; a second contact actuator within the aforesaid central opening; an operating element mounted to turn in said bearing and extending through said end wall into operating engagement with the second actuator, said end wall projecting between the second actuator and its operating element; contacts upon the aforesaid base; and complemental contacts upon said actuators.

4. Switching mechanism including a casing having an end wall; a contact mounting base assembled with said casing and spaced apart from its aforesaid end wall; a contact actuator between the end Wall and base and formed with a central opening; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and inwardly extended into operating engagement with said actuator, the extended portion of the handle having shouldered formation that engages the face of said actuator that is nearer the end wall to afford space between the handle and actuator in which this end wall is received; a bearing, carried by said end wall, within the handle and in register with the aforesaid central opening; a second contact actuator within the aforesaid central opening; an operating element mounted to turn in said handle and extending through said end wall into operating engagement with the second actuator, said end wall projecting between the second actuator and its operating element; contacts upon the aforesaid base; and complemental contacts upon said actuators.

5. Switching mechanism including a casactuator between the end wall and base and formed with a central opening which is enlarged into spaced apart recesses; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed with tongues that pass through slots formed in said end wall and through some of said recesses and are bent to engage the face of said actuator that is further from said end wall, said tongues being formed with shoulders that engage the face of said actuator that is nearer the end wall to afford space between the handle and actuator in which this end wall is received; a bearing, carried by said end wall, within the handle and in register with the aforesaid central opening; a second contact actuator within the aforesaid central opening; a lock including an operating element mounted to turn in said bearing and extending through said end wall into operating engagement with the second actuator, said end wall projecting between the second actuator and its operating element; contacts upon the'aforesaid base; and complemental contacts upon I said actuators, the contact part on the first actuator having tongue formation entering other of said recesses.

6. Switching mechanism including a casing having an end wall; a contact mounting base assembled with said casing and spaced apart from its aforesaid end wall; a contact actuator between the end wall and base and formed with a central opening; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and inwardly extended into operating engagement with said actuator, the extended portion of the handle having shouldered formation that engages the face of said actuator that is nearer the end wall to afford space between the handle and actuator in which this end wall is received; a bearing, carried by said end wall, within the handle and in register with the aforesaid central opening; a lock including an operating element mounted to turn in said handle and extending through said end wall into operating engagement with the second actuator, said end wall projecting between the second actuator and its operating element; contacts upon the afore said base; and complemental contacts upon said actuators, the contact part on the first actuator having tongue formations entering other of said recesses.

7. Switching mechanism including a casing having an end wall; a contact mounting base assembled with said casing and spaced apart from its aforesaid end wall; a

contact actuator between the end wall and base andformed with a central opening which is enlarged into spaced apart recesses; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed with tongues that pass through slots formed in said end wall and through some of said recesses and are bent to engage theface of said actuator that is further from said end wall, said tongues being formed wit-h shoulders that engage the face of said actuator that is nearer the end wall to afford space between the handleand actuator in which this end wall is received; a bearing. carried by said end wall, within thehandle and in register with the aforesaid central opening; a second contact actuator within the aforesaid central opening; a lockincluding an operating element mounted to turn in said bearing and extending through Sfildi end wall into operating engagement with the second actuator, said end wall projecting between the second actuator and its operating element;

contacts upon the aforesaid base: and cone plemental contacts upon said actuators.

8. Switching mechanism including a casing having an end wall; a contact mounting base assembled with said casing and spaced apart from its aforesaid end wall; a contact actuator between the end wall and base and formed with a. central opening; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and inwardly extended .into operating engagement with said actuator, the extended portion of the handle having shouldered formations that engages the face of said actuator that is nearer the end wall to afford space between the handle and actuator I in which this end wall is received: a bearing, carried by said end wall, within the handle and in register with the aforesaid central opening; a second contact actuator within the aforesaid central opening; a lock including an operating element mounted to turn in said handle and extending through saidend wall into operating engagement with the second actuator, said end wall projecting between the second actuator and its operating element; contacts upon the aforesaid base; and complemental contacts upon said actuators.

9. Switching mechanism including a casing having an end wall; a contact mounting base assembled with said casing and spaced apart from the aforesaid end wall: a contact actuator between the end wall and base and having a recess formation: a handle upon the exterior of the casing and inwardly extended into operating engagement with said actuator; a contact structure interposed between the actuator and base and having tongue formations entering the recess formation and having a. resilient contacting element that bears against the base: 'and a contact upon the base complemental to the aforesaid spring contact.

10. Switching mechanism including a casing having an end wall: a contact mounting base assembled with said casing and spaced apart from the aforesaid end wall: a contact actuator between the end wall and base and having recess formations; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and neaacse having tongue formations entermg some of the aforesaid recess formations to have op erating engagement wlth said actuator; a

contact structure interposed between the mounting base assembled with said casing and spaced apart from its aforesaid end wall; a bearing upon the exterior of the casing, said end wall having an opening in register with said bearing: and recesses that enlarge said opening. said bearing having tongues entering said recesses and which are clinched against the inner face of said end wall; an operating member journaled in said bearing; switching mechanism With in the casing having an operating part that is coupled with said operating member, said casing having projecting formations upon which said operating member bears; and a retaining element upon the outer end of the bearing for maintaining the operating member within the bearing.

12. In a switching device, the combination with a casing having an end wall; of switching mechanism within the cas'ng; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and having tongues projecting through arcuate slots that are formed in said end wall, these tongues being assembled with said switching mechanism to bring the handle in actuating relation thereto: and a finishing plate provided with arcuate lips passing through said arcuate slots and turned over the end wall to hold the finishing plate in assembly therewith, the inner faces of said lips affording bearing surface for an operating portion of the switching mecha nism, said end wall being depressed to afford a similar bearing surface that is coincident with the bearing surface afforded by said lips.

13. In a switching device, the combination with a casing havingan end wall; of switching mechanism within the casing; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and having tongues projecting through arcuate slots that are formed in said end wall, thesetongues being assembled with said switching mechanism to bring the handle in actuating relation thereto; and a finishing plate provided with arcuate lips passing through said arcuate slots and turned over the end wall to hold the finishing plate in assembly therewith, the inner faces of said lips affording bearing surface for an operating portion of the switching mechanism.

14. In a switching device, the combination with a casing having an end Wall; of

switching mechanism within the casing; provided with arcuate lips passing through handle upon the exterior of the casing an 4 said al'cuate slots and turned over the end having tongues projecting through arcuate wall to hold the finishing plate in assembly 10 slots that are formed in said end wall, these therewith.

tongues being assembled with said switch- In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe ing mechanism to bring the handle in actumy name this 8th day of June A. D., 1922. ating relation thereto; and a finishing plate BAYARD D. KUNKLE. 

